Taipei Times
Date: Mar 20, 2017
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman candidate Steve Chan (詹啟賢) yesterday

published a series of slides to answer some of the questions about the “319 shooting incident” involving former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), in a bid to fend off speculation within the party about his potential role in the incident.

“Exactly 13 years ago today, a significant incident occurred in Taiwan. Even 13 years later, people still ask me questions about it,” Chan wrote on Facebook, saying that his name has been associated with the shooting although he was not the one who pulled the trigger.

The 319 shooting incident refers to an alleged assassination attempt against Chen and then-vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) in Tainan on March 19, 2004, one day before the presidential election.

A bullet grazed Chen’s stomach and left a 13cm wound, while another bullet hit Lu in the knee.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: March 18, 2017
By: The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A recent mainland Chinese publication has named the works of

Taiwanese painter and calligrapher Liao Chun-mu (廖俊穆) as among the modern Chinese art with the most collection and investment value.

The book (“現代書畫最具投資收藏100家”) listed 100 modern painters and calligraphers whose works have the most collection and investment values. It was the fruit of two years of evaluation and screening by a panel of judges comprising academia, news media, artists and mainland Chinese education and cultural agencies.

In response, Liao thanked his mentors — including renowned master Chang Dai-chien (張大千) and his supervisors at the Executive Yuan for their support and guidance. He also expressed gratitude to the judges who listed him as the top of the list of the 100 artists.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-03-17

Premier Lin Chuan says the legalization of same-sex marriage is a future trend. Lin

was speaking Friday at the legislature. The remark comes as the country’s grand justices are set to convene a constitutional court to debate the issue on March 24.

The legislature has already passed the first reading of an amendment to legalize same-sex marriage. A further two readings are required for a bill to pass into law. While supporters want a change to the existing civil code, others have called for a new law specifically addressing same-sex couples. Same-sex marriage supporters believe this latter recourse falls short of the goal of marriage equality.

Lin declined to comment on whether he himself supports the legislation or how the controversy should be resolved. He said more communication between supporters and opponents is needed since the issue “involves far too many social values.”
[FULL  STORY]

New housing projects launched in northern Taiwan drops 22 percent in first quarter of 2017

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/03/17
By: Judy Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)—The number of new housing projects released onto the market

by developers plummeted to record low in the last six years, according to statistics compiled by real-estate magazine My Housing.

New housing projects declined 22.6 percent to a total market value of NT$164.8 billion in first quarter of 2017, a decrease of NT$482 million compared to the same period last year.

Taiwan real estate developers were more conservative in first quarter of 2017, as most real estate developers focus on completing new housing project sales from last year, and were less inclined to launch new housing projects, noted the magazine.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/03/17
By: Wang Shu-fen and Ko Lin

Taipei, March 17 (CNA) A new tram-train system that will be constructed to link

Keelung City and Taipei’s Nangang District will likely span 19 kilometers and have nine stations, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said Friday.

The system will use the Taiwan Railway Administration’s (TRA) existing tracks and stations, MOTC Railway Reconstruction Bureau Secretary-General Wen Tai-hsin (溫代欣) said during his briefing with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on the proposed tram project.

The project is aimed at extending the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system to the port city with a tram line, making travel between Taipei and Keelung easier and giving commuters more options.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-03-16

President Tsai Ing-wen has called on Taiwanese businesspeople based overseas to

play a role in the government’s New Southbound Policy. The president was speaking Thursday at a meeting with members of the Asia Taiwanese Chambers Of Commerce.

The New Southbound Policy seeks closer ties with Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Tsai said the government has developed the policy because it believes Taiwan can perform a key role in the region’s future development.

Tsai said Taiwanese businesses have helped build close trade ties with the nations of South and Southeast Asia. She said the New Southbound Policy aims to allow Taiwan to participate in regional development with these ties as a foundation. [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/03/16
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

High heels are indispensable shoes in every women’s shoe cabinet, but when to wear

what kind of heels is perplexing to some women. Here is the secret code of “3, 6 and 9” offered by shoe experts to make women wear the right high heels at the right time.

Open a woman’s shoe cabinet, and chances are you will find more than one pair of high heels. But how to choose? Shoes vendor A.S.O said women should choose high heels that are comfortable and properly fitting. However, A.S.O said its salespeople at stores are most frequently asked the question: what is the right heel height for them?

A.S.O said that women can try wearing different pairs of high heels at different times during the day, and follow the “3-6-9 centimeters” principle for choosing heel heights. For example, wearing 3-centimeter heels for commuting, 6 centimeters at work, and 9 centimeters to meet important guests is not only suitable to the occasions but also healthier , A.S.O said.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/03/16
By: Kao Chao-fen and Y.F. Low

Taipei, March 16 (CNA) The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday denied a media report that 5,000 Chinese spies are currently in Taiwan.

According to MAC Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正), the government has never suggested such a figure.

He was responding to a story published by the Liberty Times on Monday that claimed Taiwan has been seriously compromised by Chinese spies.

The paper said “national security authorities” have estimated the number of Chinese spies in Taiwan to total up to 5,000.    [FULL  STORY]